Growing our seafood in our oceans

Beginning today, fishermen, the seafood industry, major corporations such as McDonald's, prestigious academics and the conservation community from around the globe are converging in San Diego for a seafood summit. The goal of the summit is to make the seafood marketplace environmentally, socially and economically sustainable, that is, fished or farmed in a way that can maintain or increase production in the long term without jeopardizing the structure or function of affected ecosystems.

While San Diego residents may be aware of efforts by Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute to restore native populations of fish using aquaculture, they may not know about a new loan fund to support the restoration, harvest and marketing of wild and environmentally friendly seafood caught in California. While responsible aquaculture is important, it doesn't preclude the need to fix our failing fisheries nor does it address the exciting business opportunities available from marketing sustainable California seafood. But a new program known as the California Fisheries Fund does address this important market niche.

The Environmental Defense Fund launched the California Fisheries Fund to leverage creative financing to speed the rebuilding of fishing communities and fishing stocks. We've learned from other successful rebuilding efforts in Alaska, British Columbia and New Zealand that management reforms can improve both the profitability and sustainability of fishing and now we want to bring that success to California. The fund plans to make $5 million in loans to California fishing enterprises before the end of 2011, supporting fishery-related businesses that share its goals to promote conservation, improve revenues and bring community benefits to California's fishing communities.

Consumer demand for healthy and sustainable seafood is growing based on increased awareness about the health benefits of seafood, as well as concern for ocean life and habitat and for the people whose livelihoods depend upon the sea. Large retail chains such as Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Red Lobster and Whole Foods are committing themselves to purchasing environmentally friendly seafood supplies. By creating well-managed fisheries in California, we'll be adding to the certainty that seafood supplies are sustainable and we'll be boosting our economy and reviving our fishing communities in the process.

The California fishing industry has faced serious challenges. Statewide commercial landings peaked in 1981 at more than 900 million pounds and declined to less than 300 million pounds by 2005. Fishermen, despite their best efforts, are unable to plan for the long term, but instead focus on just getting by one season at a time. Declining fish harvests have translated into lost jobs: Since the 1980s, California's commercial fishing fleet has shrunk by more than half, from about 6,700 to 2,700 boats. California's once-vibrant fishing communities have withered. Fortunately, good news is on the horizon.

The Pacific Fisheries Management Council, which governs West Coast federal fishing, approved a groundbreaking plan in November to revitalize the multimillion-dollar federal groundfish trawl fishery in California, Oregon and Washington. The end result is an innovative new way to manage fisheries in California and along the West Coast. Called a catch share, also known as an Individual Fishing Quota program, it provides fishermen with a guaranteed percentage of the catch base. This reform aligns conservation and economics and allows fishermen to fish in a safer, more efficient pattern and to bring in fish when weather and prices are best.

As the 2008 catch share program for West Coast groundfish is implemented, it is expected that the value of the fishery will increase significantly and new fishing practices will reduce harm to fish and to habitat. In turn, as certainty is being provided about the health of the fishery, restaurants, retail chains and consumers will want to buy California fish harvested in an environmentally friendly manner. For example, when Alaska and British Columbia switched to catch share programs, their fisheries were better managed and are now considered a “best choice” on major seafood selector cards.

Recently, a distinguished panel of scientists, academics and elected officials, including California's Natural Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman, worked together to send a set of recommendations to President Barack Obama on how to restore America's ocean abundance and create a sustainable source of seafood. While the Oceans of Abundance report found that barely one-quarter of U.S. fisheries is known to be sustainable, it also identified that catch shares can greatly improve our fisheries. California has a remarkable opportunity to transform our fishing industry and to set a national example on how to create financially sound and environmentally friendly fishing practices.

DeLapa is the director of the California Fisheries Fund. He also serves as the Pacific regional director of the Environmental Defense Fund's Oceans Program.